Binocular optical instrument



2 Sheets-Sheet u H. S. CCVER BINOCULAR OPTICAL AINSTRUMENT Filed July 12, 1928 March 10, 1931.

March 10, l931. H. s. COVER 1,795,425

BINOCULAR OPTICAL INSTRUMENT Filed July 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l In ve f1tvf.' Ham/eyl 5 C0 ver.

HisAzzoffz @L Patented Mar. l0, 1931 UNT STTS waas rarest serios f HARVEY S. COVER, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA BINOCULAR OPTCELL ENSTRUMENT Application filed July 12,

duly 12, 1928, for improvements in optical.

instruments.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a binocular optical instrument of comparatively high magnifying power in a novel lform providing the maximum of ccmfort, convenience and efficiency.

Another object is to provide a binocular' optical instrument in theform of a head box or helmet to be worn on the head, with novel means independent of the hands for focusing the optical system to accommodate the vision of the user. j

A further object is to provide a bin-ocular optical instrument adapted to conveyrays of light from a plane above the level of the eye by periscopic means to the eyes of the user of this instrument.

Other objects and advantages of the construction and mode of operation of the `device herein described will appear more fully in the hereinafter specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of device.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereoI.

liigure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 isa cross sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1. v

With more particular reference to the drawings of the preferred form of my invention, A designates a head box or helmet of fabricated, or other suitable material, the head box comprising a top wall 10, a front wall 11, side walls 12, 13, and a rear wall 14, which latter is vprovided with an inwardly curving, flexible extension 15. A pair of elastic bands 16, 17 secured by rivets or bolts 18 the side walls 12, 13 and joined by-an adjustable vbuckle 19, Vce-operateV with the flexible extension in retaining the head box securely on the head, whereby the device,

the

serial No. 292,246.

and consequently .the telescope therein, is prevented from tilting.

Horizontally secured to the top wall or roof Y 10 of the head box is a casing 20, having a pair of downwardly projecting tubular periscopic extensions 21, 22, secured atv right angles thereto, the downwardly projecting extensions having inwardly projecting short extensions 23, 24 which are secured to the front wall 11 by brackets 25. rlhe casing 2O and the extensions form container for a periscopic, prismatic, binocular telescope. ln the caps 26, 27, threaded on slidable collars 28, 29, are plano-convex lenses 30, 31, through which rays of light are directed through pairs of reflecting prisms 32, 33, 34, in the direction shown by the dotted arrows, the rays of light being reversed andv caused to travel. back to the single prisms 36, 37, whence they are reflected downwardly at right angles to the prisms 38, 39, and then reflected at right angles through the lenses 40, 41, of the oculars 42, which are of the con ventional Huygens type.

l The prisms 32, 33, 34, 35, are mounted in a inl a slidable frame 43 to the top of which is fastened the plate 44 having an integral bend 45, connected to a link 46 pivotally mounted on an upwardly extending arm 47 of a bell crank lever yoke 48, integral with a fulcrum rod 49, pivotally mounted in metal plates 49 secured tothe sides 12, 13. A cord 50 connected to the bell cranlrand yhaving a loop 51 adapted to be passed over the of thev wearer, serves as a means to rock the bell crank and consequently Vto move the link 46 longitudinally thereby drawing the frame 43 containing the prisms 32, 33, 34, 35, against the tension of the coil spring 52 which is secured to the back wall of the casing 2O at one .s end, and at the other end to a downwardly projecting bent part 46 of the link 46;

By suitably manipulating the bell crank by means of cord 50 with the aw, which may be done when the device is placed on the head, i:

and the chin placed in the loop 51, it will be observed that the slidable frame 43 and the prisms therein may be shifted backward and forward in a manner to vary the focal length and, consequently, the magnifying power of the present device, to meet the requirements of different individuals. This adjustment feature is quite convenient in that it affords an almost instantaneous means of securinG' the correct focus for different eyesight, anc at greater or less distances. Y "in the compartment which receives the head, and on the front wall thereof, l provide a wedge-shaped shelf which, in conjunction with the flexible strap on the bach wall and the bands on the side wall, serve to the device securely on the head, and also to prevent tilting, this being in the case of optical instrument-s a consideration of high importance.

The function and general operation of the device has been in part indicated by the forei cn, but will be made more fully explanation:

of the device, the eyes are applied to the oculars 42, and the head box is then drawn over the head in he manner of a hat, the flexible bach wall and the elastic bands, as pointed out above, retaining the device securely upon the head of the wearer. rlhe loop 5l will now be passed over the after which a correct focus on objects of varying distances may be almost immediately attained by slightly moving the jaw, thereby angling the bell crank in a manner to cause the frame i3 containing the lenses to move. Inasmuch as any movement, forward or bachward, of the prisms in the slidable frame results in a two-fold movement of the light beams by reason of the increased or decreased length of travel in a forward or backward direction of the incident light rays, it will be perceived that the slightest movement of the jaw will entail a substantial change of focus. Only the slightest iressure and movement of the aw being required, no fatigue will be experienced in this respect over long spaces of time. The collars 28, 29 on which the lenscontaining caps are mounted, being slidable in casing 20, an additional means of changing the focus of the device is provided.

Since the object glasses 30, 3l are at a level higher than the eyes of the wearer of the device, a periscopic system employed in the present invention, the advantages residing in this mode of observation, whenever it is desirable that the user of the device maintain his position hidden, being self-evident in military use, hunting, etc. When it is desired to use both eyes for natural vision, this may be done by merely tilting the head box upwardly.

Among the optical advantages to be obained by the employment of the construction and method herein indicated, may be mentioned the fact that by reason of the unusually long path of the light rays from the object glasses to the ocular, the focal length of the oby ect glasses is prolonged over a patl several times as greatas in the well known conv ntional prism binoculars. As the magnifying power of any optical system is a function of its focal length, it will be seen that in the provision of the present comparatively great focal length l have achieved an optical instrument of great magnifying power.

ln the instrument herein described and illustrated, images are presented to the beholder in the same manner as in the terrestrial telescope, that is, the images are upright. Converging rays of light directed through the object glasses, as shown in the dotted lines and arrows, after passing through the prisms in the slidable frame are reversed in position and direction, thence are reflected through the single prisms 36, 37, and thence vdownwardly to prisms 38, 39,- tlic last pairs of prisms again effecting a complete reversal of direction of the light rays and an interchange of the two sides of the projected image which at this point Yis invertcd,-the negative Huygens oculars new reversing and presenting the image erect to the eyes. Since the terrestrial type of telescope offers all the advantages of the astronomical or inverted type of telescope, with the additional convenience that it may be used for marine or land surveying purposes,

the terrestrial type is preferred, although it' will merely be necessary to substitute a positive Bamsden type of ocular to convert the instrument to the astronomical telescope.

lt should be noted that the optical instrument herein described may be worn conveniently on the head for as many hours as an individual is ordinarily accustomed to wearing a hat, in addition to which, the head is much less susceptible to trembling or movements which, in the case of hand supported movements, renders observation of remote objects at high magnification difficult. An observer also may now, by means of the periscopic feature alluded to above, make observations without direct exposure of his person, a highly desirable feature in hunting and military use.

While l have in the present description and disclosure set forth with particularity a preferred form of construction, it will be i understood the device is susceptible of wide modification and change. The head boi; or helmet, for example, which in the drawings has been shown as of a square conguration, with the optical system secured to the top thereof, may be made to resemble a conventional helmet or stiff hat, the optical system being completely hidden therein. l do not wish, therefore, to be confined to the exact details as set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A binocular optical instrument comprising a helmet to be Worn on the head, said meneerv f helmet having obj ect glasses mounted for varia-ble adjustment of the focus thereof, oculars registering with the eyes of the wearer of the helmet, means to convey light rays periscopically from the object glasses through said oculars, and additional face operated means independent of the use of the hands to vary the focus and magnifying power of said binocular instrument.

2. A binocular instrument comprising a helmet to be worn on the head, said helmet having slidably adjustable object glasses pro viding means for varying the focal length and consequently the magnifying power of' the instrument, additional means operated by the jaw of the wearer of said hel-meJ to vary the focallengthof the object glasses, said additional means comprising a jaw operated flexible elementconnected Yto a bell crank lever having link` connection to sait. additional means whereby when thej aw of the wearer is moved, the link will be longitudinally reciprocated by the bell crank to advanoe or retire the said additional mea-ns to and from the object glass for variation of the focus thereof, and flexible means to rey tain the helmet conveniently on the head of the wearer.

3. A binocular opticaly instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, a supporting helmet adapted to be worn upon the head of the observer, substantially parallel longitudinally extending tubular members mounted upon said helmet, object lenses disposed adjacent the forward entremities of said tubular members, total reflect'ng prisms slidably mounted adjacent the rearward extremities of said tubular members and positioned in a vertical plane normally to the rear of the eyes of the observer, ocular lenses adapted to convey light rays reflected from said total reflecting prisms'to the eyes of the observer, and operating means connected to said total reflecting prisms and engageable by the jaw of the observer for adjusting the focus by changing the position of said total reflecting prisms by movement of the jaw.

A binocular optical instrument ofthe character described comprising, in combination, a supporting helmet adapted to be worn upon the head of the observer, substantially parallel longitudinally extending tubular members mounted upon said helmet, object lenses disposed adjacent "the forward eirtremities of said tubular members, total reflecting prisms slidably mounted adjacent the rearward extremities of said tubular members and positioned in a vertical plane normally to the rear of the eyes of the observer, ocular lenses adapted to convey light rays reected from said total reflecting prisms to the eyes of the observer, mechanism for normally urgino' said tota-l reflecting Vprisms in onedirection, and operating means connected l to said prisms and engageable by thej aw of the observer' for shifting the position of said prisms in an opposite direction for focusing purposes by movement of the jaw. y

5. ifV binocular optical instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, a supporting helmet adapted to be worn uponthe head of the observer, substantially parallel longitudinally extending tubular membersI mounted upon said helmet,

i l the forward ci:-

lenses disposed *i tremitiesof said h "iz ally extending tububers, right angle reflecting prisms Vmounted adjacent the upper e1 remiies of said vertically extending tubular members, ocular lenses mounted adjacent the lower extremities of said verticallyextending members, and operating mea s connected to'said total reflecting prisms ai :l engageable by the jaw of the observer for adjusting the focus by changing theposition of said total reflecting prisms by movement of the jaw.

6. fr binocular optical instrument of the character described c'omprising,in combination, a supporting helmet adapted to be worn upon the head ofthe observer, substantially parallel longitudinally extending tubular members mounted uponv said helmet, object lenses 'disposed adjacent the forward eX- tremities. of horizontally extending tubular members, total reflecting prisms slidably mounted adjacent the rearward extremities of said horizontally extending tubular mehr bers and positioned a vertical. plane non mally to the rear of the eyes of the observer, substantially vertically Vextending tubular men vers mounted adjacent tne forward er;- tremities of said horizontally ertencing members, right angle reflecting prisms mounted adjacent vthe upper extremities of said vertically extending tubular members, ocular lenses mounted adjacent the lower extremities of said vertically extending members,

`mechanism for normally urging said vtotal reflecting prisms in one direction, and operating means connected to said prisms and engageable by the jaw of the observer for shiftthe position of said prisms in an opposite direction for focusing purposes by movement of the jaw.

character described comprising, in combination, a supporting helmet adapted to be worn upon the fhead of the observer, substantially parallel longitudinally extending tubi i members mo fed upon said hennet, object lensesdispose-1:1L a l ities of said tubuia members, total reflectting prisms slidably the eyes of the observer,

l. il binocular optical instrument of the' cracent theforward etreming prisms slidably mounted adjacent the rearward extremities oie said tubular members and positioned in a vertical plane normally to the rear oi' the eye-s et the observer, ocular lenses adapted to convey light rays reflected trom said total reflecting prisms to the eyes ot the observer, operating means connected to said total reilecting prisms and engageable by the jaw of the observer tor adj ust-ing the focus by changing the position ot said total relieeting prisms by movement of the jaw, aid helmet provided with a iler;- ible portion 'for adapting said helmet to ditterent sized heads.

8. fr binocular optical instr ment of the chars ter described comprising, in combination, a supportinohelmet adapted to be worn upon the head or the observer,substantially parallel longitudinally extending tubular members mounted upon said helmet, object lenses disposed adjacent the forward extremities oi' said horizontally extending tubular members, total reflecting prisms slidably mounted adjacent the rearward extremities ot said horizontally extending tubular members and positioned in a vertical plane normally to the rear ot the eyes ot the observer, substantially vertically extending' tubular members mounted adjacent the forward eX- tremities et said horizontally extending members, right angle reflecting prisms mounted adj acentthe upper-extremities of said vertical ly ertending tubular members, ocular lenses mounted adjacent the lower extremities of said \f'eitically extending members, operating means connected to said total reflecting prisms and engageable by the aw of the observer 'for adjusting the focus by changing the position oit said total reflecting prisms by movement of the jaw, said helmet provided wit-h a flexible portion Jfor adapting said helmet to different sized heads. Y

9. An optical instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, a supporting helmet adapted to be worn upon the head of the obser ier, a easing` mounted in the upper portion of said helmet, an object lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of said casing, a total reflecting prism mounted adjacent the rear portion ot said casing and positioned in a vertical plane normally to the rear ot' the eyes of the observer, an ocular lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of sait easing, prism means for reflecting rays of light from said total reflecting prism to said ocular lens, and a flexible member operatively connected to one ot said prisms or lenses and engageable by the jaw of the observer for adjustment ot' the focus by movement ot the aw.

l0. .sin optical instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, a supporting helmet adapted to be worn upon the head of the observer, a casing mounted in the upper portion ot said helmet, an object lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of the said casing, a total reflecting prism mounted adjacent the rear portion of said casing and positioned in a vertical plane normally to the re r or" the eyes or" the observer, an ocular lens mounted adjacent tie forward portion of said casing, prism means for reiecting rays of light trom said total rellecting prism to said ocular lens, and a member operatively connected to said instrument for changing the focus' and enoageable by the jaw or' the observer whereby the focus otl the instrument may he chI ngcd upon movement ot the jaw.

ln test ,L ony whereof l have signed my name to this specilication.

HARVEY S. COVER.

llt)

lSO 

